Flower box



B. ROGGE FLOWER BOX May 22, 1934.

Filed April 7, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Ber/mrdRogye Y & 't-

May 22, 1934.

B. ROGGE FLOWER BOX Filed April 7, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .P. 8 $1? $3 MR 1 A W W m w E B. ROGGE May 22, 1934-.

FLOWER BOX Filed April '7, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 w M 4 WY w mw a Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE FLOWER BOX Bernard Rogge, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Angelo Lizzola, New York, N. Y.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and more particularly to improvements in flower boxes and the like.

Heretofore it has been practically impossible I to make flower boxes of ornamental tile and other ceramic materials due to the ease with which such materials become broken. Once the material is broken, naturally the entire box would be destroyed.

An object of the invention is to provide a new, simple and inexpensive .structure wherein ornamental tile and other ceramic materials can be used as parts of the box.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skeleton box in which ornamental tiles and the like can be secured for completing the box structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a skeleton frame work for a box in separable 2g parts which can be secured together to lock ornamental tiles and the like into place, completing the box structure.

In accordance with the present invention, boxes embodying the same are made up of upper and lower frame members, preferably of metal, spaced apart by vertical spacers, which frame members provide pockets for the reception of edges of ornamental tiles and the like. Preferably, the vertical spacers are permanently secured to the upper frame member and certain thereof are provided with threaded extensions which pass through openings in the lower frame member. Foot-like supporting disks can be attached to the threaded extensions for locking the frames together and also for serving as supports for the box proper. The tiles are seated in the pockets provided in the frame with the vertical spacers overlying the vertical edges of the tiles, and when so seated the tiles are locked in place when the frames are connected. The device can be taken apart for replacement of broken tiles or for replacement of all the tiles when it is desired to change the ornamental design of the box.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent'by reference to the following detail description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the same, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of the frame with side blocks adjacent thereto.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom member 62 used in the form shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 10 indicates generally a box made in accordance with the invention in which may be positioned an interior lining of water-proof container 11. The box 10 is made up of upper frame member 12, a lower frame 14, and vertical spacers 15. The frame members and the spacers are preferably, but not necessarily, made of some suitable metal such as brass.

The top frame consists of a flat part 16, an inner flange l7 and an outer flange 18 which slopes inwardly and downwardly. The bottom frame consists of a flat strip 20 having an outer flange 21 extending upwardly and inwardly. Both the upper and lower frame members 12 and 14 are so constructed as to be in a shape substantially of a square.

The vertical spacers 15 are in the nature of angle strips which are permanently secured to the J upper frame 12 in each of the four corners thereof. Each of the members 15 has secured thereto by solder Or by any other suitable means, a rod 22 which extends beyond the end of the member with the extension threaded as at 23. To accom- I modate these threaded extensions, the lower frame 14 has an opening 24 in each corner thereof as shown clearly in Fig. 6.

A bottom is provided for the device in the form of a flat plate 26 which has upturned flanges 2'7 along the four edges thereof. As shown in Fig.

6, these flanges 27 do not extend the full length of each side of the plate 26. The bottom member may be secured to the lower frame 14 by soldering it to the member 20 or by securing it thereto in any other suitable manner.

The sides of the box are formed preferably of flat tile blocks 30 made in any suitable manner of any suitable ceramic material, and the other surfaces of these blocks may be given any desired ornamental design. The blocks are of such thickness as to fit snugly into the space between the flange 17 and the edge of the flange 18 in the upper frame member and between the flanges 2'7 and the flange 21 inthe lower frame and bottom of the device.

A box according to the present invention is constructed substantially as follows. The upper frame is made of suitable material in the shape shown with the corner members 15 extending downwardly therefrom and permanently secured thereto. The lower frame and the bottom are assembled, the lower frame being provided with holes 24. A number of blocks 30 are then positioned between the upper and lower frame members as shown in the drawings and these frame members brought together so that the threaded extensions 23 of the rods 22 pass through the holes 24. When the parts have been assembled in this manner, they may be lockedtogether by threading onto the extensions 23 disk-like members 31 which serve the dual purpose of locking the parts together and also of providing feet for the box. A lining container 11 which may have handles 32 can then be positioned in the box, and earth and plants placed in the container 11.

Due to the fact that the actual sides of the box are made of tile blocks or similar blocks, designs of various characters can be utilized and boxes of more attractive appearances can be produced. Ordinarily tile work can not be used as flower boxes readily, since such ceramic material is broken comparatively easily. With this arrangement, however, the artistic qualities present in ceramic structures can be utilized without material sacrifice in strength of the box. The blocks are held in place firmly by the frame members and all stresses and strains are actually upon the frame members and not upon the blocks. Moreover, should one or more blocks be broken at any time they may be replaced by the simple process of dismantling the box in an order reverse to that stated for assembly, and a new block applied.

In Figures '7 to 9, inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated, such form being similar to that previously described with the exception that the box is of such a length that more than one ceramic block is necessary to make up a side thereof. This construction illustrated generally at 40 with an interior lining container 41 therein, is made up of an upper frame 42 and a lower frame 43. Vertical angle spacers 45 are provided at each corner corresponding to the spacers 15 before explained. In addition, extra vertical spacers 46 extend downwardly from the upper frame 42 at intervals along the length of the box.

A plate-like bottom 50 is provided, such bottom soldered to a part of the lower frame in the same manner as explained in connection with the previous embodiment of the invention. This bottom member 50 has a plurality of tabs or flanges 51 extending upwardly from the marginal edges thereof at spaced intervals. The number and disposition of these tabs is more or less a matter of choice so long as a sufficient number of tabs are provided to insure that the ceramic blocks will be properly held in place. As shown in Fig. 8, a tab 51 is positioned opposite each of the vertical spacers 46.

In order that the vertical spacers 46 will be held in close contact with the ceramic blocks, each one of these spacers has extending inwardly therefrom a strip 55 of some suitable metal, such strip being secured to the spacers by soldering or by any other suitable means. The vertical edges of the strips55 are punched and bent to form oppositely extending fingers 56 which lie substantially parallel to the spacers 46.

A plurality of ceramic blocks 60 are utilized in this construction, being preferably of such design that where more than one block is used in a side of the box the designs will be in harmony.

This device is manufactured and assembled in the manner corresponding to that before explained in that the upper frame with the vertical spacers 45 and 46 permanently secured thereto and the lower frame are the first formed. The various ceramic blocks 60 are placed so that those blocks in the longest side of the box are positioned with the upper and lower edges thereof between the flanges of the upper and lower frame members, and the vertical edges thereof between the vertical spacers 46 and the fingers 56. When the: blocks have been properly placed in position between the upper and lower frame members, these frame members can be locked together by securing disks 61 to rods at the corners in the manner before explained. After the box has been completed, a lining container 41 can be placed therein rendering the box available for use as a flower box or for any other suitable purpose.

This type of box possesses all the advantages set forth in connection with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and departs from that form only to the extent that more than one block becomes necessary on a side of the box when the dimensions ofa box are extended. If any one of the ceramic blocks becomes broken, it can be replaced very readily by simply removing the supporting feet, separating the frames, and then inserting a new block.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a box construction which is of utmost simplicity and which can be utilized to employ materials as parts thereof of such character as could not ordinarily be employed. In other words, the invention makes possible the use of ceramic materials as the sides of a box. While the invention has been described as employing ceramic blocks, it will be understood that blocks of other types of materials'can be used with equal efficiency.

While the boxes as shown in the drawings have been so constructed as to include flat tiles, it will be evident that the boxes can be so constructed as to accommodate tiles of other configurations. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the illustrated embodiment but is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A box of the type described comprising an upper frame member having depending flanges providing pockets, vertical angle bar spacers depending from said frame member, threaded extensions depending from said spacers, a bottom providing pockets and having openings through which said threaded extensions pass, a plurality of side-forming slabs seated in said pockets, and box supporting members threaded onto said extensions to lock the parts of the box together, said upper frame member being open for the introduction of a lining container supported by the bottom.

2. A box of the type described comprising an upper frame providing pockets, corner spacers depending from said frame, threaded extensions on the ends of said corner spacers, intermediate spacers depending from at least two sides of said frame, a bottom providing pockets and having holes through which said extensions pass, a plurality of side-forming slabs seated in said pockets with their vertical edges covered by said spacers, and box supporting members threaded onto said extensions to lock the parts of the box together.

3. A box of the type described comprising an upper frame providing pockets, corner spacers depending from said frame, intermediate spacers depending from at least two sides of said frame, fingers secured to said intermediate spacers to form pockets, a bottom providing pockets, and a plurality of side-forming slabs seated in said 

